Constellations



 The hospice has kindly let me off on Thursdays so I can see my own clients. I saw my first client for the second time this morning and had my usual self debrief over a coffee in the car afterwards, with the window open and with rain on my face.
There is a beach at Abergele, where I park up. Apparently it’s a notorious doggers beach but during the day, thank the lord there is not a heaving buttock to be spied .
So I made my mental notes and relaxed.

Last night Chic Eleanor and I went to see Constellations at Theatre Clwyd. 
This reboot of Nick Payne’s 2012 play is a love story where physicist Marieanne ( Gwenllian Higginson) meets Bee keeper Roland( Aled Pugh) and they  act out brief repeated scenes from a whole series of possible relationship scenarios, with the outcome changed each time.
It’s a rather wonderful piece , that generates its own rhythm  and in one moment the actors lapse into Welsh, which is an nod to the performance in a week or so’s time which will set entirely in Welsh .


The cottage felt cold and unloved when I got home. So I went straight out again, walked the dogs and stopped by the shop to buy logs and some cheerful Ice cream. The cheap vanilla stuff, you used to love as a kid.
On my return the log burner was soon lit and as I ate the ice cream ( so slowly so it turned slightly frothy) I packed my bag for Madrid 


56 comments:

  1. You won't feel cold nor unloved in Madrid. A warm, friendly, buzzing city.

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    1. Anonymous6:36 pm

      Oh more vicarious pleasure, I went in 1976 and 1983
      Silly days

      Keith

      Xx

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    2. Jaycee, it’s my first visit , and I’ve just been studying the metro system which seems doable

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  2. I do think being by the coast, and feeling and smelling the sea air, is very conducive to thinking things through. Madrid is waiting to welcome you. You'll have a busy, but enjoyable time, I'm sure. xx

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    1. I’m nervous , travelling aboard alone is new tick box for me , and I have to change at Barcelona to Madrid

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  3. Good to have a debrief like that..I am sure that some don't debrief adequately, which can lead to burnout.
    Isn't it miserable to return to cold wet weather just as we were relaxing into a bit of warmth!! Enjoy your trip xx

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    1. It’s dreadfully depressing , everything looked so cheerful only 24 hours ago. Mind you I’ve just had a hot shower and am sitting in front of the fire feeling like Sunday night before school.

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  4. A holiday in Madrid will be great fun. The weather is lovely too. Sunshine and warmth can't be beat!

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    1. It’s only two days , but I’m excited

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  5. Anonymous1:15 pm

    When you live in Australia and have to google what dogger is… lol

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    1. In Australia, a person who collects, buys or is given horses and takes them to slaughter is known as a dogger.
      Not quite what I was meaning

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  6. "Not a heaving buttock to be spied" -- ha! You DO have a way with words. I had never heard of dogging until I came to the UK -- it's not a term we use in the states, at least not that I ever heard. Fascinating Aida have a funny song about dogging, as I recall?

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    1. (It's perhaps a bit disturbing that out of that whole post I focused on the dogging. LOL)

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    2. Anonymous1:46 pm

      As a non-English speaker with a sometimes hasty reading style, I thought John was talking about a beach allowed to dogs and their masters, obliterating the fact that a “heavy buttock” evoked absolutely nothing for me except the habitat of horses (buttock/paddock eh oui 🤣).CatherinefromFrance

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    3. Steve, a heaving buttock in a cold car, in a public beach , oh lord I can’t think of anything worse
      Give me a warm hotel room

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    4. Catherine you made me laugh
      sexe en voiture sur la plage

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    5. I love this in French, it sounds so romantic and fun!

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  7. Anonymous1:42 pm

    I had to look up “dogger”…
    lizzy d

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    1. Anonymous6:26 pm

      Oh my , I’ve also learned something new. I know about cruising but dogging .
      In wales too!

      Lee

      Ps I’m proud of you for travelling alone

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    2. That’s kind of you Lee, I can’t say I’m not nervous

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  8. Barbara Anne1:51 pm

    A pleasant post, start to finish, because you do have a way with words, John. Lucky you.
    Have a joyeous time in Madrid!

    Hugs!

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    1. Watch this space babs
      The weather looks lovely

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  9. Tell us all about Madrid, soon.

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    1. Is the Pope Catholic ? I’ll blog it to death

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  10. Traveller3:15 pm

    Have a wonderful trip to Madrid.

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    1. I know nothing about the city save for the lisping choir

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  11. Madrid...swoon. Do enjoy it for us and you especially. Sun, hot guys, hot women. Accents to enjoy. The orchestra, the choir, the conductress all so enchanting.

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    1. Anonymous6:02 pm

      Hot women? John?

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    2. I’ve dated some very attractive women in my time , and one, Jane, who is one of my best mates, used to be a girlfriend and she’s beautiful

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    3. Anonymous4:29 pm

      Interesting. Now you just wish you were a female.

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  12. Wishing you a wonderfully delightful and exciting trip to Madrid! Looking forward to hearing about the concert.

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  13. weaver4:15 pm

    Have a super time. Have you seen Guernica? If not, it is in the Museum of Modern Art there (all the art places are close together) - I found the original very moving.

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  14. Constellations? I thought this might be about astronomy. Thank goodness it isn't. I don't want to know about Uranus, Venus and Pollux.

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  15. Alrighty then. I thought he was talking about a dog park and was wondering why he would object when he takes his dogs out all the time. I learn new words everyday.

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  16. Jo in Auckland6:25 pm

    Glad I wasn't the only one who had to look up the word!! Enjoy Madrid... I have never been and probably never will but I can imagine it will be wonderful and the weather hot!

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    1. dogging
      /ˈdɒɡɪŋ/
      nounINFORMAL•BRITISH
      the practice of watching or engaging in exhibitionist sexual activity in a public place.

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    2. Anonymous2:53 pm

      oh. I too thought of dog walkers, perhaps not picking up after their charges, etc..... Clearly I lead a sheltered life. Or it's just not an idiom here in the US?
      ceci

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  17. Oh, I didn't know what dogging was either. I thought you meant dog walkers on the beach.

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  18. What would you do if you spied a heaving buttock? Whatever it is, I’m sure it would be equally poetic. How did you feel after making your mental notes? I’m sure you were amazing.

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    1. I’d love to see one wouldn’t you😉

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    2. I’ve seen them jiggle around here recently, but it’s been a while since I saw one heave.

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  19. Packing your bag for Madrid? Does that mean the bag now contains your matador suit or will you be wearing that on the plane?

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  20. Anonymous11:16 pm

    The things I learn from blogs...

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  21. I like how you immediately left the house again. Why stay if it's going to depress you?

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  22. My enduring memory of Madrid was buying delicious Choros on street corners, first thing in the morning. The perfect breakfast.

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  23. I have heard about the culture, fashion, flamenco and tapas in Madrid. A wonderful place to visit. Not long now!

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  24. How was your first afternoon of counselling? I am so impressed. i completed chaplaincy studies almost two years ago and still can't get anyone to take me seriously

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  25. Anonymous12:20 pm

    Enjoy your trip. I am sure you will be fine. Jean in Winnipeg.

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  26. Anonymous5:34 pm

    Can't say as I'm a fan of a heaving buttock myself. Reminds me of car share program with Peter Kaye. His side kick thinks dogging is walking the dog. Glad course and counselling is going OK. Been chilly last few days.

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